Improvement in invalid-bedsteads



PATENT OFFICE.

PETER W. HARDWIOK, OF WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN INVALID-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,533, dated May8,1866.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER W. HARDWIGK, of the county of Wayne and Stateof Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedsfor Invalids 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description ot the same, reference being had to thedrawings which accompany this application and form a part of the same,and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing the upper portion ofthe bedstead with a counter-balance turning upon pivots in the siderails thereof, by means ot' which the patient may change the position ofthe upper portion ot' the body from a horizontal to a perpendicularposture at will.

It further consists in an arrangement ofthe bed and bedding` in such amanner as that the calls ot' nature may be answered by the patientwithout being removed from the bed.

' To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, Iwill proceed to describe the same.

In the drawings, Figure l represents the mattress and bedding arrangedfor use. Fig. 2 represents the bedstead, showing the upper portion ot'the bottom thrown up by the operation of the counter-balance.

In Fig. l, f represents a mattress having a round opening in the center,into which is titted a metallic tube or thimble, c, provided with awater-proof collar, fitting the same closely. d is a water-proof pad,intended to cover the opening in the mattress after the tube c isremoved, and is overlaid by the flap e of the sheet a.

In Fig. 2, A represents a bedstead of the ordinary construction, thelower end of which is provided with cross-slats of the ordinary kind. Cis a cross-piece resting upon the side rails,

provided with a circular opening, D, which in size and positioncorresponds with the tube c in Fig. 1. Immediately under the opening Dis a shelf', E, suspended from the cross-piece C by bearings l, 2, 3,and 4.

B is an independent frame, the upper portion of which is tted withcross-slats in ,the common form, andthe lower portion is provided withboxes or receptacles uponeither side to receive thecounterbalancing-weights.

The frame B is attached to the side rails of the bedstead by bolts orpins, upon which it turns from a horizontal to a perpendicular position,and vice versa.

F is a catch' or fastening, attached to the bedstead to hold the frame Bin a horizontal position when desired.

G is an upright standard, tted into the footrail ofthe bedstead,provided with an arm, H, and a Candlestick upon its top, (marked I.) Thetop ot' the Candlestick I is provided with a concave rest, t, whichserves as a stand for a lamp. The arm H supports a table, J, which maybe used for the deposit of food or medicine, and may be turned to orfrom the patient at will, and may also be raised or lowered by meansofthe screw on the standard G.

The counterbalancing-weights may be increased or diminished to adjustthem to the weight of various patients, and when not required bysickness the bedstead and bedding may be freely used as any other wouldbe.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what l claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The independent frame B, with its counterbalancing attachment.

PETER W. HARDWIOK.

Witnesses:

J. B. CLARK, WM. F. DENNIs.-

